Just as humans suffer from dementia
in their old age, dogs can too. The disease is more formally known as Cognitive
Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). Current treatment includes a diet rich in omega-3
fatty acids as well as other antioxidants and the drug Selegiline. Selegiline
or Anipryl alters the attentiveness and the wake-sleep cycle.
With medical advancement, improved environments, and higher nutritional quality,
animals like humans are living longer and thus suffering more from ailments
that come with old age. Nearly a third of 11 to 12 year old dogs and two-thirds
of 15 to 16 year old dogs have significant cognitive impairment according
to research done at the University Of California School Of Veterinary Medicine
in Davis. However, through diet and medication, the progress of CDS can be
slowed.
Behaviors exhibited by pets with CDS can be spelled out by the acronym DISH.
The first is disorientation which includes walking aimlessly, staring off
into space, loss of balance, and falling. The second is interaction. The
dog may no longer care to greet you and simply ignore you. Third is sleep.
The animal's routine often reverses, so it is awake during the night yet
sleeps in the day. The final sign is house training. The pet no longer follows
the routine which it had been accustom to for many years. However, these
signs can also be indicators of other issues as well. For instance, the change
of bathroom habits might be due to arthritis.
Blood pressure is very important to a pet's health. High blood pressure,
hypertension, is common in older animals. Conditions such as kidney disease
or Cushing's disease can contribute to the production of too much adrenal
hormone which in return will raise blood pressure. Hypertension damages the
blood vessels in the brain and thus impairs cognitive ability. Chronic high
blood pressure is often the leading cause of senility in humans and researchers
are finding the same trend with pets. However, because there are medicines
on the market designed at reducing blood pressure levels, there is still
much that can be done to reduce the chances of your pet contracting cognitive
dysfunction syndrome.
The best thing an owner can do is be alert for changes in behavior. The earlier
symptoms are caught, the more that can be done to improve the health conditions.
